Display-case.



UNTTED STAE$ PAT-T @Fl ltlldl.

DAVID R. SLATER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

DISPLAY-CASE.

Application filed November 4, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, DAVID R. SLATER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to display cases, and has for its principal object the construction of a device by which the top lids may be opened by the operatcrs foot, thus leaving the hands free for other purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a locking device so that the case cannot be opened by lifting the lids, on the part of a person standing on the outside of the same.

lVith these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a view in transverse section of a display case showing my device attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the rear portion of the case taken at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in section of the locking device used in connection with my device. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line l4, in Fig. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals it will be seen that this device improvements in consists of a case 1 which is provided with the base 2, and a floor 3 in which there is formed an aperture 4 which is provided with a bushing Upon the base 2 is a front 6 and the'back sliding-doors 7. The front 6 of the casing is provided upon its upper side with the molding 8, said molding 8 pro vided with an extending flange 9. The back of the casing 1 is provided with the molding 10 to which the lid 11 is hingedly se cured by means of the hinge member 12.

In order to raise the lid 11 when so desired there is provided a rod 13 which is pivotally secured to the bracket 14: which is carried by the lid. 11. The lower end of the rod 13 passes through the aperture d, and is provided with a bifurcated end 15. The lower portion of the bifurcated end 15 extends to form an ear 16 to which the catch. 17 is pivoted as illustrated at 18. The catch 17 constitutes an elongated body portion which is provided with a laterally extending Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19,1913.

Serial No. 729,229.

arm 19. The upper end of said elongated body is formed to constitute a cam 20, and an extending lip 21 formed, adjacent said cam 20. The bottom 3 of the case carries a bracket 22 to which is pivotally secured the foot lever 22 said foot lever 23 being provided with a laterally projecting portion 24. In order to hold the catch 17 in a locked position against the plate 5 there is provided a spring 26 which bears against the back of the elongated body, whereby the cam 20 will rest against the plate for holding the rod 13 for preventing the lid 11 from being raised. The lip 21 acting as a means for limiting the outward movement of the catch. When it is desired to raise the lid 11 the operator presses upon the projecting portion 24 whereby the foot lever will strike against the catch 17 forcing the catch 17 within the bifurcated portion of the rod 13 at which time by continued pressure upon the lever 23 the lid will be raised.

In order to facilitate the raising of the lid 11 there is provided a projecting member 27 which carries a coil spring 28, said coil spring 28 provided with an ext-ended portion 29. Mounted upon the side portion of the lid is a bracket 30 which carries a grooved wheel 31 which rides upon the extended portion 29 of the spring 28. It will be seen that by this combination about onehalf the weight of the lid will be raised by the spring which bears upon the wheel 31, when the catch 17 has been moved so that the rod 13 starts to raise the lid 11..

In operation when a customer wishes to select some articles within the case the clerk presses his foot on the projection 24 which causes the opposite end of the lever to strike the lower end of the cat-ch 17 and move it into the bifurcated portion 15 of the rod 13. The rod is then pushed upward raising the lid. It will be noted that the lid is raised without any excessive twist as the spring takes half the weight. It will also be noted that if a person tries to open the case by lifting the lid the catch 17 engages the plate and effectively prevents such opening.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is Z 1. In combination with a display case and hinged top lid, a rod pivotally secured to said lid, said casing provided with a bottom, said bottom provided with an aperture, said rod passing through said aperture, the lower end of said rod being bifurcated and pro vided with an extending ear upon each bifurcation, a catch provided with an elongated body portion, a laterally extending toot pivotally secured to said ears, the upper end of said catch provided with a cam portion, an extending lip formed adjacent said cam portion, spring means positioned within said bifurcated portion and engaging the back of said catch for holding said catch in an extended position for engaging said bottom, whereby said lid is held in a closed position, said lid constituting a means for limiting the outward movement of said catch, and a foot operating lever carried by said bottom, said foot operating lever adapted to engage said catch. for moving said catch within said bifurcated portion whereby said lid will be unlocked and can be raised by continued pressure upon said rod.

2. In combination with a display case and hinged top lid, a downwardly extending rod pivotally secured to said lid, said casing provided with a bottom, said rod passing through said bottom, locking means carried by the lower end of said rod for preventing said lid from being raised, a foot lever carried by said bottom and adapted to engage the lower end of said rod for raising said lid after said locking means has been moved, a projecting member carried by the side of said casing, a spring mounted upon said projecting member and provided with an eX tended portion, a bracket provided with a grooved wheel carried by said top, said wheel adapted to ride upon said projecting portion whereby to facilitate the raising of said lid after said locking means has been moved.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID R. SLATER.

Witnesses H. W. STALEY, MARGARET MAOLEOD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. O. 

